Novel Coronavirus : Myths Debunked with Facts

March 25, 2020 | Aamir Altaf

An outbreak of coronavirus infection was first detected in Chinese Hubei province with a population of 11 million. The virus has now spread over 150 countries across the globe and characterized as the Pandemic by the world health organisation on the 11 Mar 2020.As of 22 Mar 2020, There were 300,000 laboratory confirmed cases of Coronavirus disease 2019 infection with 12944 reported deaths .First we should know what is a pandemic . Pandemic indicates outbreak of disease that spread to covered an entire region or the world .A pandemic can result in massive loss of life .in last 100 years there are 4 global pandemic .the worst in 1918 influenza pandemic resulting in an estimated 50 to 100 Million deaths while no global pandemic has been born from the family of coronavirus to regional epidemics have resulted from this family of viruses . They include severe Acute respiratory syndrome or SARS and Middle east respiratory syndrome or MERS In 2001 to 2003 and 2012 to 2015 respectively and resulted in over 1500 deaths much is yet to b known about the 2019 Novel coronavirus.The 2019 novel coronavirus is a newly discovered strain from the coronavirus family That causes respiratory disease . Humans have long been infected by Coronavirus it is one of those responsible for common cold .it is a contagious viral infection spread through inhalation or ingestion of viral droplets as a result coughing and sneezing and touching infected surfaces are primary sources of infectionThe structure of Coronavirus has multiple parts . inside the virus lies genetics encoding that allows the virus to hijack human cells and turn them into virus factories . A protein encapsulate the genetic material known as the viral envelope on the surface of viral spike glycoprotein (S) and Hemogglutnin-esterate dimer (HE) proteins. The structure of the 2019 coronavirus is a mutation. The large S glycoprotein are used by the virus to gain entry to human cells , They mostly likely attach to Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 receptors on the cell membrane allowing the virus entry. The exact mechanism for this is not known the human cell ingest the virus in a process known as endocytosis .one inside the cytoplasm the endosome opens to reveal the virus's genetic material a single-stranded RNA. The virus hijacks the cells machinery to replicate the RNA and n proteins and use endoplasmic reticulum to form its M protein outer layer and the all important S proteins .After replications the virus is carried by the Golgi bodies out if the cell in S protein known as Exocytosis so that it can infect other cells . Meanwhile the stress of viral production on the endoplasmic reticulum eventually leads to apoptosis or cell death . It should be noted down that the mechanism of action for 2019 Novel coronavirus is unknown However the scientists in the world have sequenced the genome and visualise the structure . There is currently no cure or vaccine for 2019 Novel coronavirus and treatment is only supportive.Therefore preventing transmission is paramount as an airborne virus recommended precautions are similar to those for preventing the Flu . This includes washing hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds , covering sneezes and coughs with the inside of the elbow , refraining from touching high contact surfaces ,if you use tissue through them away immediately , avoid close contact with people who are sick.

Myth’s vs Reality .Myth

Plenty of People believe that the novel coronavirus remain in the throat for 4 days which causes soar throat and coughing before it reaches the lungs , so drinking plenty of water and gargling with water and salt eliminate the virus

Reality

Its true that coronavirus cause soar throat and gargling with warm water may make it feel better ,it has no direct effect on the virus

Myth

You can boost your immune system and lower your risk of getting Novel coronavirus by eating supplements, vitamin etc or taking colloidal silver

Reality

There is no evidence that you can boost your immune system by supplements , taking specific vitamin or ingesting silver .

Myth

Novel coronavirus only inflects the old or the young.

Realty

People of all ages can be infected with novel coronavirus .it appears that children may be less susceptible to being infected with Coronavirus . their exposure to a wide variety of different respiratory viruses circulating in day care centers and schools may have protective effect.

Myth

Spraying alcohol , chlorine or bleach all over your body will protect you from the virus

Reality

No, these substances can be used to disinfect surface but are harmful when directly in contact with you skin ,eyes or mount.

Myth

Antibiotics can prevent from catching novel coronavirus

Reality

Antibiotics will not help prevent any type of virus including novel coronavirus . Antibiotics only work against the fight of bacteria not viruses .

Myth

Drinking warm water every 15 minutes will avoid the virus

Reality

There is no evidence at all to support this claim.

Myth

The novel coronavirus is a bio weapon

Reality

At this point there is no genetic evidence of anything other than a naturally occurring virus. It is true that there is a major laboratory in Wuhan that studies coronavirus and has a large collection of coronaviruses . But from the analysis that have been done there is not any evidence that this virus has been engineered or is different from something that has been found in nature .The pandemic risk of novel coronavirus is very real . However biology has advanced greatly in the 15 year since SARS and so has communication between biologist and Governments. The world has taken monumental efforts to contain the spread of the virus also some existing in experimental drugs are offering for treating the infection and improving outcomes but even this infection control habits remain paramount .If humanity is to stave off a fall pandemic.

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Novel Coronavirus : Myths Debunked with Facts

March 25, 2020 | Aamir Altaf

An outbreak of coronavirus infection was first detected in Chinese Hubei province with a population of 11 million. The virus has now spread over 150 countries across the globe and characterized as the Pandemic by the world health organisation on the 11 Mar 2020.As of 22 Mar 2020, There were 300,000 laboratory confirmed cases of Coronavirus disease 2019 infection with 12944 reported deaths .First we should know what is a pandemic . Pandemic indicates outbreak of disease that spread to covered an entire region or the world .A pandemic can result in massive loss of life .in last 100 years there are 4 global pandemic .the worst in 1918 influenza pandemic resulting in an estimated 50 to 100 Million deaths while no global pandemic has been born from the family of coronavirus to regional epidemics have resulted from this family of viruses . They include severe Acute respiratory syndrome or SARS and Middle east respiratory syndrome or MERS In 2001 to 2003 and 2012 to 2015 respectively and resulted in over 1500 deaths much is yet to b known about the 2019 Novel coronavirus.The 2019 novel coronavirus is a newly discovered strain from the coronavirus family That causes respiratory disease . Humans have long been infected by Coronavirus it is one of those responsible for common cold .it is a contagious viral infection spread through inhalation or ingestion of viral droplets as a result coughing and sneezing and touching infected surfaces are primary sources of infectionThe structure of Coronavirus has multiple parts . inside the virus lies genetics encoding that allows the virus to hijack human cells and turn them into virus factories . A protein encapsulate the genetic material known as the viral envelope on the surface of viral spike glycoprotein (S) and Hemogglutnin-esterate dimer (HE) proteins. The structure of the 2019 coronavirus is a mutation. The large S glycoprotein are used by the virus to gain entry to human cells , They mostly likely attach to Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 receptors on the cell membrane allowing the virus entry. The exact mechanism for this is not known the human cell ingest the virus in a process known as endocytosis .one inside the cytoplasm the endosome opens to reveal the virus's genetic material a single-stranded RNA. The virus hijacks the cells machinery to replicate the RNA and n proteins and use endoplasmic reticulum to form its M protein outer layer and the all important S proteins .After replications the virus is carried by the Golgi bodies out if the cell in S protein known as Exocytosis so that it can infect other cells . Meanwhile the stress of viral production on the endoplasmic reticulum eventually leads to apoptosis or cell death . It should be noted down that the mechanism of action for 2019 Novel coronavirus is unknown However the scientists in the world have sequenced the genome and visualise the structure . There is currently no cure or vaccine for 2019 Novel coronavirus and treatment is only supportive.Therefore preventing transmission is paramount as an airborne virus recommended precautions are similar to those for preventing the Flu . This includes washing hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds , covering sneezes and coughs with the inside of the elbow , refraining from touching high contact surfaces ,if you use tissue through them away immediately , avoid close contact with people who are sick.

Myth’s vs Reality .Myth

Plenty of People believe that the novel coronavirus remain in the throat for 4 days which causes soar throat and coughing before it reaches the lungs , so drinking plenty of water and gargling with water and salt eliminate the virus

Reality

Its true that coronavirus cause soar throat and gargling with warm water may make it feel better ,it has no direct effect on the virus

Myth

You can boost your immune system and lower your risk of getting Novel coronavirus by eating supplements, vitamin etc or taking colloidal silver

Reality

There is no evidence that you can boost your immune system by supplements , taking specific vitamin or ingesting silver .

Myth

Novel coronavirus only inflects the old or the young.

Realty

People of all ages can be infected with novel coronavirus .it appears that children may be less susceptible to being infected with Coronavirus . their exposure to a wide variety of different respiratory viruses circulating in day care centers and schools may have protective effect.

Myth

Spraying alcohol , chlorine or bleach all over your body will protect you from the virus

Reality

No, these substances can be used to disinfect surface but are harmful when directly in contact with you skin ,eyes or mount.

Myth

Antibiotics can prevent from catching novel coronavirus

Reality

Antibiotics will not help prevent any type of virus including novel coronavirus . Antibiotics only work against the fight of bacteria not viruses .

Myth

Drinking warm water every 15 minutes will avoid the virus

Reality

There is no evidence at all to support this claim.

Myth

The novel coronavirus is a bio weapon

Reality

At this point there is no genetic evidence of anything other than a naturally occurring virus. It is true that there is a major laboratory in Wuhan that studies coronavirus and has a large collection of coronaviruses . But from the analysis that have been done there is not any evidence that this virus has been engineered or is different from something that has been found in nature .The pandemic risk of novel coronavirus is very real . However biology has advanced greatly in the 15 year since SARS and so has communication between biologist and Governments. The world has taken monumental efforts to contain the spread of the virus also some existing in experimental drugs are offering for treating the infection and improving outcomes but even this infection control habits remain paramount .If humanity is to stave off a fall pandemic.